Earth underreamer



Dec. 21, 1954 O TALLEY 2,697,586

EARTH UNDERREAMER Do/en 0. Ta/le l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1954 D. o. TALLEY EARTH UNDERREAMER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1949 Dale 0. Talley IN V EN TOR. BY M fi A TTOR/Vf/J 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 26, 1949 Helen O. Tcz/le 11w EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1954 D. o. TALLEY EARTH UNDERREAMER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 26, 1949 INVENTOR.

Dole/1 0. Talley fl TTOR/VEYJ Dec. 21, 1954 o o. TALLEY EARTH UNDERREAMER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 26, 1949 Dq/en 0. Talley I INVENTOR. BY

A OENEYJ United States Patent UNDERREAMER Dolen 0. Talley, Houston, Tex.

Application November 26, 1949 Serial No. 129,681

3 Claims. (Cl. 255 -76) This invention relates to an improved underreamer for employment especially in underreaming bored holes, as holes in the earth, so that foundation footings may be later poured thereinto.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved underreamer which is adapted to underream a bore to substantially the shape of a truncated cone mounted on a cylindrical base.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an underreamer of this class which is adapted to provide underreamed holes having greater base cylinder diameters than can be obtained with conventional underreamers.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an underreamer of this class in which the drive means for the blades may slidably and rotatably move downwardly in diametrically opposed, vertically extending guideways in the bucket.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an underreamer of this class which has a base or closure plate pivotally mounted to the bucket at one point and releasably connected thereto at an opposite point, such plate being also adapted to ream a pilot hole therebelow.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an underreamer of this class having a base or closure plate which. is easily releasable and pivotal.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved underreamer of this class for underreaming bored holes to substantially the shape of a truncated cone having a cylindrical base, the blades employed being of a configuration to more easily transfer the formation excavated into the space within the blades and bucket with the exertion of a reduced driving power.

lt is another object of this invention to provide an improved underreamer of this class which is of light construction, and which is easily fabricated and assembled.

It is another object of this invention to provide a base closure plate which has means on the bottom thereof for transferring formation outwardly from beneath the plate and which also has slots therein so that loose formation may be transferred upwardly therethroug'h into the space within the blades and bucket.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an underreamer of this class in which the driving shaft ends terminate in hearings in the blades; these bearings in turn having rollers rotatable thereon and slidable in guideways in the bucket.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an underreamer which has stops and braces on the base plate thereof to counterbalance against misalignment and distortion of the bucket members by the blade thrust thereagainst.

Other and further objects will be obvious when the specification is considered in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one modification of the underreamer with blades extended;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through a bored hole;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through a hole which has been partially underreamed by the underreamer of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through a hole which has been fully underreamed by the underreamer of this invention;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the underreamer of Fig. 1 prior to extending its blades;

2,697,586 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 'ice Fig. 9 is an elevation taken along line 9- -9 of Fig. 5,

showing the closure plate opened;

Fig. 10 is a plan view taken along line 10--10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a composite perspective view showing the details of assembly of the modification of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 12 showing details of connection of arm to bucket and blade;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing details of the closure plate latch;

Fig.15 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of closure plate construction;

Fig. 16 is an elevation showing a second modification of the underreamer.

The assembly of a preferred modification of this invention is apparent when Fig. 12 is considered in connection with Figs. 5-15. The underreamer 1 comprises a bucket consisting of a top assembly 2 and bucket side members 3 and 4. The top assembly 2 includes the cylinder 5, which has fitted thereinto and rigidly connected thereto the guide assembly 6. This guide assembly 6 includes the side plates 7 and cutting plates 8, the U- shaped guide members 9, and the blade guide plates 10, which are Welded below the guide members 9 and extend from one side to the other of the bucket members 3 and 4.

A Kelly or polygonal driving shaft 11 is driven by some conventional source of rotary power, not shown. This Kelly terminates in the plate 12, which is rigidly connected to the guide cylinder 14. The journal boxes 13 are connected into the drive cylinder 14 on either side thereof, and the shaft 16 passes therethrough. Each blade or cutter has a spacer plate 18 on the inner side thereof, and the bearing cylinder 19 on the outer side thereof at the top. There is a bore 20 through these members and through the blade of this bore which is of a diameter to receive therein the shaft 16. A roller 21, on each bearing 19, rolls within the guides 9 and also moves slidably upwardly and downwardly therein in accordance with the vertical motion of the Kelly 11. A plate 22 is adapted to be fitted over the drive cylinder 14, including the boxes 13, and a top plate 23 is adapted to be fitted over the Kelly 11 and on top of the plate 22. golts 24 connect the plates 22 and 23 to the top assem- The blades or cutters are of a unique configuration and include the side plate 25, which tapers upwardly at the top 26 to provide the journal for the shaft 16, hereinabove described. At the lower end the side plate tapers downwardly to a point 27. As shown most clearly in Fig. 7, a cutter plate 28 extends from the side plate at a decided angle thereto, and has on the end face thereof the cutter teeth 29. These cutter teeth may be rigidly connected to the cutter plate 28, as shown in Fig. 12, or optionally they may be removably connected thereto, as by screws. At its base the cutter plate 28 has a portion 30 which tapers inwardly after the fashion of a scoop. As shown most clearly in Fig. 6, the blades are suspended downwardly from the shaft 16, and are positioned by the blade guides 11 An arm 31 is pivotally connected at the top thereof to each blade or cutter 15 by means of the cap screw 33, which passes through a washer 34, and through the arm 31, and is threaded into the bushing 35, which is rigidly connected, as by welding, to the blade 15. The lower end of the arm is pivotally mounted on the turned-down portion 36 of the cylindrical rod 37, which is rigidly connected, as by welding, to the bucket member; the arm 31 being held in this position by means of the washer 38 and the cap screw 39.

The base or closure plate 40 has the upstanding stud 41 thereon, which has the threaded end 42. The low- ;er bucket member 3 has the rectangular cut-out portion 43 therein, and has the cylindrical lug 44 welded to the slot 43 on either side thereof, as shown most clealy in Fig. 15. The lug 44 has a bore therethrough to receive the stud 41 so that the nut 45 may be threaded onto the upper threaded end 42 of this stud, thereby pivotally connecting the base plate 40 to the bucket member 3.

Substantially diametrically opposite the stud 42, the latch 46 is pivotally mounted to the rod 47, which s rigidly connected, as by welding, to the plate 40. ThlS latch 46 has the lug 48 thereon, which fits in the slot 49 in the bucket member 4. At the top, the latch 46 has the ear 50 thereon, which fits in the slot 51 of the knob plate 52, which is rigidly welded to the cylinder 53, which pivots on the pin 54, which extends from one side to the other of the indentation 55 in the bucket member 4. Obviously, when the latch 46 is pivoted upwardly, it will catch in the slot 51 of the knob plate 52 and latch the base or closure plate 40 to cover the space between bucket members.

In operation, upon clockwise rotation of the cutters 15, the resistance of the formation to the cutters sets up a couple of forces which tend to twist the bucket members 3 and 4 out of alignment in a counterclockwise direction. The stop 61 is, therefore, provided on the base plate 40 to space the cutter from the member 3. An additional stop 62 is also provided on the base plate 40 outwardly of the member 3 to prevent this member from twisting outwardly under the force of the cutter thereagainst.

The bucket member 4 has a slot 65 therein at the bottom thereof to prevent the base plate 40, which is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction when opened, from failing to close due to the possibility of otherwise entrapping formation against the side or end face of the bucket member. The stop 63, located on the base plate 40 to rest within the slot 65 when the plate is in closed position, also serves as a centering stop to locate the closed plate.

It is also necessary to provide a spacer bar 66 which is welded at the ends thereof to the bucket members 3 and 4 to maintain these members in spaced relationship against the torsional eifects of rotation. Additionally, guides or stop ribs 64 are shown in Fig. 5 only for optional use on either side of the latch 46 to maintain this element in alignment against distorting effects of rotation. The stops 61, 62, and 63, the slot 65, and the spacer bar 66 are clearly illustrated in Fig. 15 and elsewhere, but have been omitted in Figs. 6 and 9 for the sake of clarity and to prevent obscuring the relation of other parts.

The centering point or guide 67 is provided beneath the base plate 40 to extend below into the formation, and the two spiral vanes 68 and 69 are also provided, which complement each other in cutting away the formation beneath the base plate so that the earth does not pack up there and cause the blades or cutters 15 to undercut the desired configuration of the hole to be underreamed. These vanes 68 and 69 are obviously of a configuration to move the earth outwardly from beneath the base plate 40 into the underreamed portion of the hole outwardly therefrom. The arcuate slots 70 are also provided in the base plate 40 so that any loose formation not moved outwardly by the vanes 68 and 69 may be forced upwardly through the slots 70 into the space within the bucket members 3 and 4 and the blades or cutters 15.

In the modification of Fig. 16, the structure of the upper portion of the bucket or assembly 2 is essentially the same as that described for the modification of Fig. 12. However, this underreamer differs from the first type hereinabove described in the details of construction of the blades and in their connection to the bucket member 76.

In this modification, arcuate slots 77 are provided in the blades, and the bucket members are cut away at 78 to allow access through the outer periphery thereof so that a connection can be made through the guide plate 10a by bolts or studs 79, as shown in Fig. 16, so that each blade 75 may be slidably connected, by virtue of the slots 77 in each blade, to its adjacent bucket member. A casing or cover 79a and reinforcing plate 80 may be provided on the inside of each blade 75 to protect the slot from becoming fouled with the earth being excavated.

Additional features of construction consider lower guides 57 and 58 to further space the cutters 15 from the side members 3 and 4, and to further brace the members and guide the cutters. Also, a small-diameter hole 54 is provided on one side of the bucket assembly 2 so that a tool may be inserted therethrough to force the shaft 16 out through the larger-than-shaft-diameter hole 56 on the opposite side of the bucket assembly 2.

In operation, a hole 82 is bored into the formation 83, as shown in Fig. 2. Then the underreamer, as shown in Fig. 5, is inserted thereinto and rotary force is applied to the Kelly 11 which revolves the whole underreamer around, preferably in a clockwise direction. The exertion of downward force on the Kelly 11 also causes the blades or cutters 15 to be extended outwardly through the openings 85 and 86 between the bucket members 3 and 4, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7.

Fig. 3 shows an intermediate step in the process of reaming out a bore 82, and this step shows the beginning of the formation of a bell-shaped, underreamed hole 84. It should be noted in this case that the cutter plate portion 30 extends inwardly from the cutter plate 28 when the underreamer 1 has achieved this stage of underreaming. Fig. 4 shows the further step when continued rotation and downward movement of the Kelly 11 has expanded or extended the blades or cutters 15 out to full position within the allowable limits permitted by the arms 31. In this case the cutter plate portion 30 is shown as extending vertically above the base 86 of the underreamed hole, so that the hole thus perfected has a cylindrical base 87 and a portion 88 thereabove which is the shape of a truncated cone.

The provision of the arms 31, as shown in Fig. l, and their arrangement with regard to the bucket members 3 and 4 and the blades or cutters 15 will permit the blades or cutters of this underreamer to underream a hole provided with a bell toe or cylindrical base portion of the same outer diameter as the diameter of the cone base which other conventional types of underreamers can cut. This amounts to a considerable advantage, as when conventional equipment of the same rated nominal diameter is used, it is necessary to undercut above the cone base obtained, or else dig out a cylindrical portion below the cone base to obtain an equivalent bell toe.

An additional feature of decided advantage in this invention rests in the fact that the top of each blade or cutter 15 provides the bearing in which the shaft end i 16 is journaled, and the bearing 19 for such shaft end,

rigidly connected to the blade or cutter 15, has the roller 21 rotatable therearound, so that the friction of the driving connection between the bucket assembly 2 and the other members of the underreamer is greatly reduced. Heretofore with conventional equipment effecting this connection, it has been necessary to counteract binding of the driving means in the bucket by any of seve ral expedients not found necessary when this inventron is employed.

The shape of the blades or cutters 15, as shown in Fig.6, permits the formation cut away to be scooped readily within the interior of the bucket assembly 2; this being possible by virtue of the relative space occupied, in elevation, of the blades or cutters 15 and the openings 85 and 86 between blades or cutters and bucket members 3 and 4. The easy pivoting and unlatching of the base 40 also permits easy evacuation of the core or body of formation within the bucket after the blades have been drawn back into the position shown in Fig. 5, and after the reamer 1 has been lifted from the bore 82.

Broadly, this invention considers an improved underreamer which is adapted to cut a hole shaped as a truncated cone mounted upon a cylindrical base, and in the cutting thereof this invention considers a more efficiently operating mechanism, of lighter construction, and provided with novel features expediting accuracy and speed of operation.

What is claimed is:

1.. An underreamer adapted to be driven by a machine having a drive shaft coincidentally rotated and lowered by said machine into a preformed cylindrical bore to be underreamed, said underreamer including a bucket insertable into said bore and having opposed vertically extending guide plates extending along parallel opposed chordal planes within said bucket and also having plate means provldmg opposed vertically extending guide slots with opposite side surfaces of a slot extending perpendicularly from said guide plates toward the periphery of said bucket, opposed drive connection means extending transversely from the lower end of said drive shaft and including means to rotatably and slidably bear against said slot side surfaces for a substantial radial length in anti-frictional contact therewith to effect the driving connection between said shaft and said bucket, said bucket providing opposed vertically extending openings in the lower part thereof, opposed cutters pivotally connected to said drive connection means and guidably bearing against said guide plates and when inoperative extending downwardly from said drive connection means within said bucket almost to the bottom thereof when said drive connection means is proximate the top of said slots, a motion transmitting linkage connection means between each cutter and said bucket including a straight linkage and means pivotally connecting one end of said linkage to said cutter below said drive connection means and the other end of said linkage to said bucket at a point vertically and horizontally offset from said upper linkage connection and firmly spacing said linkage to extend parallel to said guide plates, said drive connection means rotating said bucket and urging downwardly on said cutters as said drive shaft and said drive shaft connection means are coincidentally rotated and lowered by said machine whereby said linkages extend said cutters outwardly through said openings to be rotated with said bucket to underream said bore, the edge of each cutter proximate the opening through which it is extended being constituted by angularly related upper and lower lengths which, when said cutters are fully extended outwardly of said bucket, extends with said upper length inclined downwardly and terminating in said lower length extended in substantial parallelism with the axis of said drive shaft whereby the completed shape cut by said angular edges is that of a cylinder at its base and a frusto-cone above said cylinder.

2. An underreamer adapted to be driven by a machine having a drive shaft coincidentally rotated and lowered by said machine into a preformed cylindrical bore to be underreamed, said underreamer including a bucket insertable into said bore and having opposed vertically extending guide plates extending along parallel opposed chordal planes within said bucket and also having plate means providing opposed vertically extending guide slots with opposite side surfaces of a slot extending perpendicularly from said guide plates toward the periphery of said bucket, opposed drive connection means extending transversely from the lower end of said drive shaft and including means to rotatably and slidably bear against said slot side surfaces for a substantial radial length in anti-frictional contact therewith to effect the driving connection between said shaft and said bucket, said bucket providing opposed vertically extending openings in the lower part thereof, opposed cutters pivotally connected to said drive connection means and guidably bearing against said guide plates and when inoperative extending downwardly from said drive connection means within said bucket almost to the bottom thereof when said drive connection means is proximate the top of said slots, a motion transmitting linkage connection means between each cutter and said bucket including a straight linkage and means pivotally connecting one end of said linkage to said cutter below said drive connection means and the other end of said linkage to said bucket at a point vertically and horizontally offset from said upper linkage connection and firmly spacing said linkage to extend parallel to said guide plates, said drive connection means rotating said bucket and urging downwardly on said cutters as said drive shaft and said drive shaft connection means are coincidentally rotated and lowered by said machine whereby said linkages extend said cutters outwardly through said openings to be rotated with said bucket to underream said bore, the edge of each cutter proximate the opening through which it is extended being constituted by angularly related upper and lower lengths which, when said cutters are fully extended outwardly of said bucket, extends with said upper length inclined downwardly and terminating in said lower length extended in substantial parallelism with the axis of said drive shaft whereby the completed shape cut by said angular edges is that of a cylinder at its base and a frusto-cone above said cylinder, said bucket having a swingable dump door and a vertically disposed hinge mounting between said door and said bucket on one side of said openings to accommodate swinging of said door in the plane of said door and a releasable latch between said door and said bucket on the other side of said openings, said bucket and said door also having interlocking connection between opposed lower edges of said bucket on opposite sides of said openings including means on said door to resist twisting couples tending to shear said latch and said hinge mounting.

3. An underreamer adapted to be driven by a machine having a drive shaft coincidentally rotated and lowered by said machine into a preformed cylindrical bore to be underreamed, said underreamer including a bucket insertable into said bore and having opposed vertically extending guide plates extending along parallel opposed chordal planes within said bucket and also having plate means providing opposed vertically extending guide slots with opposite side surfaces of a slot extending perpendicularly from said guide plates toward the periphery of said bucket, opposed drive connection means extending transversely from the lower end of said drive shaft and including means to rotatably and slidably bear against said slot side surfaces for a substantial radial lengthin anti-frictional contact therewith to effect the driving connection between said shaft and said bucket, said bucket providing opposed vertically extending openings in the lower part thereof, opposed cutters pivotally connected to said drive connection means and guidably bearing against said guide plates and when inoperative extending downwardly from said drive connection means within said bucket almost to the bottom thereof when said drive connection means is proximate the top of said slots, a motion transmitting linkage connection means between each cutter and said bucket including a straight linkage and means pivotally connecting one end of said linkage to said cutter below said drive connection means and the other end of said linkage to said bucket at a point vertically and horizontally offset from said upper linkage connection and firmly spacing said linkage to extend parallel to said guide plates, said drive connection means rotating said bucket and urging downwardly on said cutters as said drive shaft and said drive shaft connection means are coincidentally rotated and lowered by said machine whereby said linkages extend said cutters outwardly through said openings to be rotated with said bucket to underream said bore, the edge of said cutter proximate the opening through which it is extended being constituted by angularly related upper and lower lengths which, when said cutters are fully extended outwardly of said bucket, extends with said upper length inclined downwardly and terminating in said lower length extended in substantial parallelism with the axis of said drive shaft whereby the completed shape cut by said angular edges is that of a cylinder at its base and a frustocone above said cylinder, said bucket having a swingable dump door and a vertically disposed hinge mounting between said door and said bucket on one side of said openings to accommodate swinging of said door in the plane of said door and a releasable latch between said door and said bucket on the other side of said bucket and said door also having interlocking connection between opposed lower edges of said bucket on opposite sides of said openings including abutment means on said door to resist twisting couples tending to shear said latch and said hinge mounting, said openings, said abutment means consisting of brace abutments upstanding from the upper surface thereof and engageable with said bucket on opposite sides of said opening to vertically abut surfaces of said bucket in the direction of rotation to resist said twisting couples, said bucket also including means thereon to resist said twisting couples.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,317,192 Jones Sept. 30, 1919 1,710,998 Rudkin Apr. 30, 1929 1,854,823 Bertran et al. Apr. 19, 1932 2,170,284 Eastman Aug. 22, 1939 2,225,165 Dunlap Dec. 17, 1940 2,401,515 Schutte et al June 4, 1946 2,469,713 Coleman May 10, 1949 2,481,781 Rawlinson, Sr. Sept. 13, 1949 2,631,013 Darin Mar. 10, 1953 

